Likud Youth Head Sparks Debate Comparing Haredi and Reserve Soldier Budgets

Hadar Moctar, head of youth for the Likud campaign, has ignited controversy by comparing the budgets allocated to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community with those designated for reserve soldiers. Moctar asserted that the Haredi population receives a disproportionately small share of the national budget relative to its size.

During a discussion, Moctar questioned the amount of money directed towards the Haredi community, stating, "How much money goes to the Haredi?" After a participant responded, she confirmed the figure of 2.4 billion shekels. Moctar then calculated this amount as 0.3% of Israel's 700 billion shekel budget, while noting the Haredi population constitutes 14% of the country.

She contrasted this with the 23 billion shekels she claimed were allocated to reserve soldiers, representing 3.2% of the national budget for a population group that is less than 14%. Moctar defended the allocation of funds to the Haredi public, stating, "A Haredi is a person. It's not a cat or a dog or I don't know what. It's okay, it's okay that he receives budgets."

However, Moctar's calculations do not encompass all state expenditures for the Haredi community. While the 2026 state budget is indeed around 699 billion shekels, the 2.4 billion shekel figure she cited pertains to sectoral budgets within the Ministry of Education for the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties, not the entirety of government services and budgets for the Haredi population. Consequently, presenting this figure as only 0.3% of the national budget allocated to the Haredi population does not reflect the complete budgetary picture. The comparison with the 23 billion shekels reportedly allocated to reserve soldiers also does not represent a comprehensive comparison of all government spending on both groups.